Newsline: British ambassador to Saudi Arabia becomes first senior diplomat to convert to Islam

The British ambassador to Saudi Arabia has become the first senior diplomat to convert to Islam and complete the Haj. Simon Collis, 60, said he had decided to convert to Islam ‘after spending 30 years in Muslim societies’. Mr Collis is married to Syrian Huda al-Mujarkech. He had previously served as Britain’s ambassador to Syria between 2007 until 2012, when diplomatic relations broke down between the UK and President Bashar al-Assad’s regime. He has served in a string of Middle Eastern countries, including stints as ambassador in Iraq and Qatar and senior diplomatic positions in United Arab Emirates, Yemen, India and Tunisia.